Recipes for Delectable Vegan Muffins

Here is a cookbook to treasure and use frequently--150 Best Vegan Muffin Recipes, by Camilla V. Saulsbury presents not only delicious and easy to make recipes but the author has done her research. The front of the cookbook contains information preparing muffins in general and helpful details about the  different  vegan ingredients.                             

 A few examples of scrumptious recipes: Jelly Doughnut Muffins, Morning Oatmeal  Muffins (a very nice way to have your oatmeal and a muffin, too), Tropical Fruit Muffins with Coconut Streusel, Fig Date Muffins, Pineapple Lime Muffins, and Raspberry Vanilla Muffins, to name just a few of many perfect recipes.

 Published by Robert Rose, Inc. $19.95.                                                           

Sample recipe:

Strawberry Yogurt Muffins (page 50)

Makes 12 muffins

At the height of summer, you can't have too many strawberries. Here, they are enveloped in golden muffins. The slightly tangy, not-too-sweet batter is a breeze to mix up.

•    Preheat oven to 400°F (200°C)

•    Blender

•    12-cup muffin pan, greased

2⁄3 cup   vegan granulated sugar or    150 mL

     evaporated cane juice, divided

1 cup     all-purpose flour  250 mL

1⁄2 cup   whole wheat pastry flour     125 mL

1 tsp     baking powder 5 mL

1⁄2 tsp   salt 2 mL

1⁄4 tsp   baking soda   1 mL

11⁄4 cups halved strawberries 300 mL

1⁄3 cup   vegetable oil 75 mL

1⁄3 cup   vanilla-flavored soy yogurt  75 mL

1 tsp     vanilla extract    5 mL

1.   Set aside 1 tbsp (15 mL) of the sugar. In a large bowl, whisk together the remaining sugar, all-purpose flour, whole wheat pastry flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

2.   In blender, process strawberries, oil, yogurt and vanilla until blended and smooth.

3.   Add the strawberry mixture to the flour mixture and stir until just blended.

4.   Divide batter equally among prepared muffin cups. Sprinkle with the reserved sugar.

5.   Bake in preheated oven for 19 to 24 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in pan on a wire rack for 5 minutes, then transfer to the rack to cool.

 

Tip: Although they are somewhat harder to find, almond milk yogurt or rice milk yogurt may be used in place of the soy yogurt.

Excerpted from 150 Best Vegan Muffin Recipes by Camilla V. Saulsbury © Robert Rose Inc. www.robertrose.ca Reprinted with permission. All rights reserved.

Classic Cocoa for Cooking and Drinking

You know the name and are familiar with the chocolate but remember this classic that has been with us for some 100 hundred years--definitely a classic. Hershey's Natural Unsweetened Chocolate is perfect for baking or making  hot chocolate. You can add whatever sweeteners you wish. A second variety was added-- Hershey's Natural Special Dark, a special blend of Dutch, processed cocoa and natural cocoa. Drink your chocolate and bake with it, too.

Definitely Not Plain Vanilla

When mixing any ingredients you want to use the best so the result will be the best. Think of how often you use Pure Vanilla Extract. Now think of the purest, most fragrant and flavorful Vanilla. If you are thinking Nielsen- Massey Vanilla, you are on the right path.

Nielsen -Massey was founded in 1907 and quickly became Vanilla experts and trusted purveyors of the many forms of this at-once exotic and familiar aroma and taste. Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Sugar. Madagascar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste, Rose Water, Orange Blossom Water, Pure Orange Extract, Pure Lemon Extract. Pure Almond Extract. Tahitian Gourmet Vanilla Beans. Pure Chocolate Extract. Pure Coffee Extract.

Think of the delights that can be conjured using these fragrant flavors! Just remember to add the flavors at the end of the cooking process or cream them with the butter to protect the delicate essence of the flavorings.

Worth a read is A Century of Flavor, Nielsen Massey Vanillas. This is a company history and cookbook you’ll want to have for the photos and text, as well as for the tantalizing recipes.

http://www.nielsenmassey.com/